Orlando Shooting

[PhuturePriest]

1 hour ago, Josh said:

 

10 hours ago, Josh said:

Josh, I am once again going to ask you nicely to stop posting things like this, but it is the last time I will do so nicely. Stop posting things about Islam and homosexual actions. All of us are completely aware homosexual actions are sinful, and that Islam is heretical and wrong, and therefore has erroneous teachings and understandings. Such discussion has no place on a thread that was meant to air our grief about this tragedy and discuss possible ways to help. If you want to discuss the immorality of homosexual actions and issues with Islam, make your own thread and discuss those things. Your posts have been completely inappropriate and I will not tolerate them. This is not a time to discuss sin and theology, but one of prayer, grief, and help. I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

[WhoamI]

Thank you, PhuturePriest, for starting this thead.  It is, at least if you ignore certain posts, an escape from all the politicizing which I have been seeing on Facebook. 

One thing which stuck out from a book I read years ago, Sexual Authenticity by Melinda Selmes. She mentions in her book that once she was asked by an audience member at a talk she gave, what to say to "convert homosexuals." The asker seemed to want some succinct argument she could pull out,  hit someone over the head with,  and instantly convert them. The reply was something to the effect that no one converts by force, or by argument. Love converts, but only authentic love, real friendship, compassion. 

You may want to take that into consideration, Josh.

 

[Nihil Obstat]

Our love does not convert anyone either. Only the freely offered gift of God's grace can do that.

[WhoamI]

1 hour ago, Nihil Obstat said:

Our love does not convert anyone either. Only the freely offered gift of God's grace can do that.

True. The way we treat others can be a vehicle to help them be open to that grace, but it is ultimately God.  Thus, the importance or prayer and penance, along with example and charity.

[Socrates]

9 hours ago, Josh said:

"The retiring liberal Bishop of St. Petersburg blamed Catholics for the terrorist attack in Orlando. In a blogpost Monday, Bishop Robert Lynch said that Catholicism “targets” and “often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people.” The seed of contempt, he said, turns into hatred, “which can ultimately lead to violence.” Unless this attitude changes, he states, “we can expect more Orlandos.”

What a steaming load of horse manure!

That clown can't retire soon enough.

 

(This liberal blaming of Catholics/Christians for this mass murder is perhaps the most upsetting things being done in its wake - though, sadly, hardly surprising.)

[Peace]

53 minutes ago, Socrates said:

What a steaming load of horse manure!

That clown can't retire soon enough.

 

(This liberal blaming of Catholics/Christians for this mass murder is perhaps the most upsetting things being done in its wake - though, sadly, hardly surprising.)

Yeah, blaming Christians is a bit of a stretch.

But I would want to see the full quote of what he actually said.

[Aragon]

6 hours ago, Nihil Obstat said:

Our love does not convert anyone either. Only the freely offered gift of God's grace can do that.

Take it from me, someone with experience in this area. My conversion was, of course, entirely the grace of God. But God used human instruments - and every last one of those instruments treated me with respect and love. Likewise, the disparaging language and comments I heard/read some Catholics making about people like me did a lot to keep me away from the Church for so long.

[Guest]

6 hours ago, WhoamI said:

Thank you, PhuturePriest, for starting this thead.  It is, at least if you ignore certain posts, an escape from all the politicizing which I have been seeing on Facebook. 

One thing which stuck out from a book I read years ago, Sexual Authenticity by Melinda Selmes. She mentions in her book that once she was asked by an audience member at a talk she gave, what to say to "convert homosexuals." The asker seemed to want some succinct argument she could pull out,  hit someone over the head with,  and instantly convert them. The reply was something to the effect that no one converts by force, or by argument. Love converts, but only authentic love, real friendship, compassion. 

You may want to take that into consideration, Josh.

 

Yeah I admit I have anger and resentment towards a lot of the gay community. They have now made "same sex marriage" legal and this will affect everyone. God is not mocked. We as a nation will be punished. Like the previous meme I posted said "Take Cover!" Also to those who lost their lives I'm saddened and I pray for them and their families. What is even sadder is the very real/likely possibility they are in hell for eternity separated from God. Although I hope they made it to Purgatory.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Guest

[Nihil Obstat]

5 hours ago, Aragon said:

Take it from me, someone with experience in this area. My conversion was, of course, entirely the grace of God. But God used human instruments - and every last one of those instruments treated me with respect and love. Likewise, the disparaging language and comments I heard/read some Catholics making about people like me did a lot to keep me away from the Church for so long.

Likewise each of those human instruments only did a thing for you because of a previous gift of grace. Nothing which was good was a human effort.

[WhoamI]

3 hours ago, Josh said:

Yeah I admit I have anger and resentment towards a lot of the gay community. They have now made "same sex marriage" legal and this will affect everyone. God is not mocked. We as a nation will be punished. Like the previous meme I posted said "Take Cover!" Also to those who lost their lives I'm saddened and I pray for them and their families. What is even sadder is the very real/likely possibility they are in hell for eternity separated from God. Although I hope they made it to Purgatory.

I see that anger and resentment, and that makes me sad for you. I will keep you in my prayers, that you can have some interior peace about all this. Not acceptance, or condoning it, but peace.

I agree, as a nation, we are in serious trouble, for more than just gay marriage. I don't think I need to list the reasons. (By the way, I'm likely in a different country, Canada, but if anything, we are farther along the slippery slope than the US.)

What can we do, as individuals? Pray, trust in God, speak the truth strongly, but always with charity, love those around us, friends and enemies, be an example of Christian joy in a world that is so often joyless.

 

 

 

[Maggyie]

10 hours ago, Peace said:

Yeah, blaming Christians is a bit of a stretch.

But I would want to see the full quote of what he actually said.

Unfortunately the full quote is just as bad. It's equally obnoxious the way some Christians are claiming this episode as an example of Christian persecution. A few dozen people were mowed down but because of mean Facebook comments, the Christians are the ones being persecuted etc. But people like Bishop Lynch make me gag. In his blogpost he even refers to our "founding parents" againgag me with a spoon. If he wants to be a feminist he could start by offering paid maternity leave to church employees. Ooooo but that would actually cost him something. 

[Anomaly]

Omar was a mentally sick individual that acted out in hate and mental illness.  It wasn't the fault of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, atheists,  Middle Eastern Arabics, America, Europeeans, conservatives, liberals, gay, straight, transgender, celibate, pro-gun, anti-gun, omnivores, or vegans.   

But somehow we manage to assume or assign guilt on one or more of these groups.   Some even are even misguided enough to twist this tragedy for political purposes. 

One of my daughters was in Orlando that night, enjoying the night life.  My wife and I had no idea about Orlando until she called.   She's not gay, but has friends that are.   She could have been there.  She was at a bar in Downtown Disney, one of the places Omar scoped out.  He could have been there.  

I can scarce imagine losing a child to this sick individual who lashed out in hate and blame.  I don't see anything constructive in expending much effort to search for blame and generating hate towards anyone but Omar.  That only gives power to hate and fuels the cycle.  

[Guest]

Just now, Anomaly said:

Omar was a mentally sick individual that acted out in hate and mental illness.  It wasn't the fault of Muslims

He acted out during Ramadan and according to his religion all of his sins will be forgiven because of this massacre and he is in paradise. He was screaming out Allah Akbar when he was murdering people. He pledged allegiance to terrorist groups. His coworkers said he used to pray 4 times a day (to Allah aka Satan) in front of them. This was an act of war. 

Edited June 15, 2016 by Guest

[Anomaly]

8 minutes ago, Josh said:

He acted out during Ramadan and according to his religion all of his sins will be forgiven because of this massacre and he is in paradise. He was screaming out Allah Akbar when he was murdering people. He pledged allegiance to terrorist groups. His coworkers said he used to pray 4 times a day in front of them. This was an act of war. 

Josh, 

In my opinion, you're at a point in your life that you may be letting your passions overwhelm your fundamental nature of being a reasonably decent person.   I'll probably not engage you for awhile.  

Omar's acts represent Islam as accurately as an IRA Bomber represents Catholicism.  Both were mistaken about the core of their religion and used them as a veil to lie to themselves and feel good about their acts of hate.    It's not the religions, friend.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Anomaly

[Guest]

Do what you want. You're living in a fantasy world believing Satan doesn't exist. Wake up before it's to late and you're in outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Just now, Anomaly said:

Omar's acts represent Islam as accurately as an IRA Bomber represents Catholicism.  

Keep drinking the Kool - Aid you sound like this wicked snake 

Just now, Anomaly said:

 It's not the religions, friend.

It's mind blowing Catholics prop this bs and bend over backwards to defend a satanic false religion like Islam. Crazy.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Guest